"I've been doing this for years and years and years, and people say things nice and people say things [which are] mean. And it's just like, whatever. You take the good with the bad."

Her make-up artist Troy Surratt has also confirmed that it was only make-up, not surgery, and that she was "experimenting" with her look. He added that he was surprised it was a talking point in the first place.

Surratt told People he had not anticipated the massive amounts of criticism Thurman received for wearing less mascara than usual.

"Frankly, I'm quite surprised by the conversation," he said.

"By now I would have thought that we were all open to and knowledgeable of the role that makeup plays in the world of fashion and particularly celebrity, as a medium for creative self expression," Surratt added. "I think that women should feel open and free to experiment with different beauty looks - it's only make-up, at the end of the day it all washes off."

Celebrity news outlets asked Thurman: "Uma, is that you?" after she was photographed at the premiere of new programme The Slap. Many remarked that it was a shame that the way Thurman looked was the centre of attention, and not her work.

Renée Zellweger was given the same treatment last year when she was photographed looking different to when she starred in Bridget Jones.